Pinball game-controlled racing game apparatus



April 3, 1951 w. LEMKE PINBALL GAME-CONTROLLED RACING GAME APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 20, 1947 ATTD RN EYB W. LEMKE PINBALL GAME-CONTROLLED RACING GAME APPRATUS April 3, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 20, 1947 rf, E w NW E 7/ Wm @E m mn K m A jNllww w\ l l m F 7 f Qn Patented Apr. 3, 1951 UNITED PINBALL GAlVIE-CONTROLLED RACING GAME APPARATUS William Lemke, Antioch, Ill.

Application May 20, 1947, Serial No. 749,159

1 Claim.

My present invention relates to an improved pin ball game-controlled racing game apparatus or amusement device oi the type including a plurality of spring-pressed pistons for projecting balls which in their course of travel engage switch means to energize solenoids and thereby through mechanical means move toward their destination a plurality of indicators.

In the present embodiment I have shown the indicators as being horses and the object of the game is to move forwardly the horses by solenoid actuation, the rst horse to reach the goal of course, being the winner.

The game will prove of interest to young and old and will require and develop suicient skill so that proper contact by the respective balls will quickly advance the horses.

In the accompanying drawings I have illus trated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention according to the best mode I have thus far devised, but it will be understood that various changes and alterations may be made in the exemplified structure within the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan View of the board of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the spring switch mechanism for energizing a solenoid.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view at line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the solenoid circuit.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the light and bell circuit.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the piston projector for the balls.

Referring now to the drawing I employ a base board 2 having a series of parallel slots 4 longitudinally thereof and below and aligned with the slots I utilize rods E slidably supported at one end in the tubes 8 in brace l0, the other ends of the rods forming cores for the solenoids i2. Springs I4 conned by collars I6 urge the rods back when drawn forward by the solenoids.

The markers here illustrated comprise horses I8 on bases 2li and having angular extensions 22 formed with openings 24 drilled at right angles to the extensions and having a rod 6 passing therethrough. The rod is moved slowly in one direction upon energization of the solenoid, causing the marker to move with the rod due to the engagement of the extension with the rod, but when the solenoid is ede-energized spring i4 imparts a quick retrograde movement to the rod causing it to slide freely through the extension leaving the marker in an advanced position.

At the corners of the base board 2 I locate a plurality of pin ball devices including bases consisting of upper and lower conducting plates 26 and 28 separated by insulation Sii, and the rings 32 of the upper plate surround the spring contacts 34 having the vertical rods 36 secured to the lower plate and contact arms 33 slightly spaced from the ring 32. Pins 4l! located at strategic points on the plates interrupt the course ofthe balls 42 which are shot or propelled within the wall 44 by the piston 4S when pulled by knob 48 against spring 58. The piston reciprocates in collar 52 in the wall 5ft of the pin ball base, and a rubber collar 55 cushions the blow as the extended piston is released.

As the ball, located by conventional means in the path of the piston, is propelled, it will pass or move over the pin ball base striking the spring contacts, causing them to rebound against their respective rings 32 and close the circuit through wires 56 and 58 to one solenoid, the power for which is received through wires and B2.

As the markers are advanced by the plurality of players propelling their respective balls, they proceed toward the goal, and the first marker to reach. the goal and thus win, will cause the lower end 64 of the extension to close contact 66 on arm 68 against contact l!! on arm 'I2 to close the circuit through wires 14 and 1B to lamp 'I8 and bell 80.

The lamp of the circuit for the winning marker will be illuminated as the bell rings and will thereby indicate the winner.

When the race is completed, the markers may be returned to the starting point by rod 82 and its cross arm '84 which engages the markers to return them to theV original position.

With any number of players up to the maximum, the game will become exciting and pleasant and will develop skill in propelling the balls so that the maximum number of solenoid energizations will be effected to move the markers forward in a succession of movements.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a game apparatus, the combination of a base board provided with a series of parallel slots longitudinallyv thereof, a series of rods aligned with said slots, respectively, beneath the same, a

plurality of tubular members, each nxed to said base board and slidably supporting one end of each of said rods, respectively, a plurality of solenoids, each said solenoid slidably receiving the opposite end of each of said rods, respectively, a collar on each of said rods, spring means about each said rod between said respective collar and solenoid thereof, said springs biasing said rods into said tubular members respectively, bases slidable above the base board and adapted to carry markers, extensions depending from said bases, each said extension having an opening through which one of said rods passes, each said extension lying in a plane at an acute angie with the rod axis whereby each said rod when moved in one direction by a solenoid will frictionally engage the extension and advance said base but when moved in the opposite direction by a spring will slide through said extension opening Without moving said base, means for selectively energiz- 20 ing each said solenoid for predetermined time intervals and means slidably mounted on said base board and adapted to be moved into engagement A with said extensions for returning said bases to a starting` position.

WILLIAM LEMKE.

REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS lo Number Name Date 997,349 Ward July l1, 1911 1,217,145 Brenner Feb. 27, 1917 1,454,968 Higuohi May 15, 1923 1,986,000 Langrocl: Jan. 1, 1935 ,5 2,098,406 slezak Nov. 9, 1937 2,113,278 Musser Apr. 5, 1938 2,124,456 Smythe July 19, 1938 2,285,244 Williams June 2, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 141,263 Great Britain Apr. 15, 1920 572,519 Great Britain Oct. 1l, 1945 

